Light fixture



July 30, 1963 Filed Dec. 10, 1959 R. L. STRAWIC K LIGHT FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY )MM July 30, 1963 R. l.. sTRAwlcK 3,099,403

LIGHT FIXTURE Filed Dec. 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. JZQYMoJ/ZZ. 557229370X BY n / ,wwe/vw:

United States Patent 3,099,403 LIGHT FIXTURE Raymond L. Strawick, 7 30 S. Lincoln Place, Spokane 4, Wash. Filed Dec. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 858,683 Claims. (Cl. 240-47) This invention relates in general to a light fixture, and more particularly, to a light fixture having a reflector especially useful in combination with an incandescent or filament lamp or any other source capable of producing visible and invisible radiant energy.

Other uses and purposes will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

Accordingly, it is a feature and object of the present invention to provide a light fixture for use in combination with a filament or incandescent lamp, wherein the reflector is provided with a coating on one surface capable of reflecting one of the visible or invisible radiant energies and of transmitting the other of the visible or invisible radiant energies.

Another object lof the lpresent invention is in the pro vision of a light fixture including the combination of a reflector and a lamp capable of producing visible and infrared radiant energies, wherein the reflector includes a transparent carrier having a coating on yone surface thereof capable of reflect-ing :one of the radiant energies and transmitting the other of the radiant energies.

It is `a further object of this invention to provide a light fixture including a reflector anda lamp or source of visible radiant energy, wherein changing of the physical dimensions of the light column produced by the light fixture or the focus of the light fixture may be obtained by providing a sectional reflector with the sections moveable relative to each other.

It is another object of this invention to provide a sectional reflector wherein the sections are of such an arcuate extent that they may be evenly coated by the multilm or colloidal dispersion systems.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture having a reflector composed of a plurality of straight longitudinally extending and transversely arcuate sections connected together and a line source of radiant energy, such as an elongated tubular filament lamp.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide -a light fixture .including 'a reflector and a line source of radiant energy, wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of arcuate sections, and each section includes a transparent carrier having a coating on one side capable of reflecting visible radiant energy and transmitting infrared radiant energy.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a sectional reflector fora light fixture, wherein the reflector when the reflector is curvate or arcuate, the sections are of such extent las to present slight curvature so that an even deposition of a wave length selective coating may be obtained.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means for cooling the -bases of an elongated tubular lamp.

Still another object of the invention is to provide reilectors at the opposite end of an elongated tubular lamp for reflecting the lateral radiant energy thereof away lfrom the bases of the lamp.

It is another object of this invention to provide a lig-ht fixture including a reflector and a line source of radi-ant energy, and means for inhibiting the entrance of infrared radiant energy into the light column.

A still further object of this invention is in the provision of a light fixture including a eurvate reflector and a source of radiant energ and -a reflector for reflecting infrared radiant energy Igiven oli by the source back to the source.

Other objects, features :and -advantages of the invention Mce will become apparent `from the following description taken in conjunction with the lacccmpanying sheets =of drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the light fixture -according to the invention and looking toward the reflective surface of the reflector;

FIG. 2 is a det-ail view with some parts in fragmentary, looking substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective View of a hinge at one end of the light fixture, with some parts in fragmentary;

FIG. 4 is a generally diagrammatic view, and illustrating a modification of the invention in the provision of an infrared reflector over the filament lamp;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic View of still another modification illustrating a plurality of sections forming a curvate reflector;

FIG. 6 is Ia detailed view illustrating an end socket in the fixture and also showing a modification wherein the reflector for reflecting infrared radiant energy is spaced outwardly from the filament lamp,

FIG. 7 is `a somewhat diagrammatic View of a fixture and illustrating the infrared reflector spaced outwardly from the filament lamp as shown in FIG. 6 and also illustrating arrows indicating the travel of radiant energies;

FIG. 8 isa perspective View `of a diagrammatic illustra` tion of a light xture illustrating still another embodiment of the invent-ion;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken through the light lfixture of FIG. 1 and substantially `along the line 9-9 thereof;

FlG. l() is a front elevation-al view with a part broken away for yclarification of a substantially bell-shaped refleotor for use with the standard pear-shaped incandescent or filament lamp and illustrating the reflector as being sectional; :and

FIG. ll is a bottom plan view of the reflector shown in FIG. l0.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. l, the embodiment shown the-rein includes generally a frame 12, a reflector 13 held by the frame, and a line source of radiant energy in the form of an elongated tubular filament lamp 14.

The frame 12 may be constructed of a suitable material such as metal, and includes generally a pair of opposite end plates 16 secured together by a pair of cross bars 1S, FIGS. l and 9. Each end plate is of identically the same shape, and as seen in FIG. 9, generally trapezoidal in configuration.

The .lamp 14 will be a Quartzline type incandescent lamp having an iodine cycle, as disclosed in Patent 2,883,571 and recently developed by General Electric Corporation, although it will be appreciated that other lamps could yalso be employed in the fixture of the present invention. The lamp i4 includes a tubular transparent envelope 19 and a filament 20 mounted coaxially therein. A base 21 is provided at each end of the envelope and having electrically conducting engagement with a source of potential.

The bases 21 0f the filament lamp are supported in socket members 22 constructed of a suitable insulating and heat resisting material. Each socket member 22 is adjustably mounted on its corresponding end plate by means of fasteners 23 coacting with slots 24, whereby adjustability of the cylinder lamp 14 relative to the reilector 13 may be provided.

Terminals or lugs 25 are carried by the socket members 22 and serve rto electrically contact the bases 21 and provide a terminal for connnection to a wire 26 leading to a source of potential.

The reflector 13 includes a pairof curvate or arcuate sections 27 which are longitudinally str-aight but transversely curvate or arcuate and have adjacent ends in closely arranged relationship to form a continuous reflecting surface. The opposite ends of the sections 27 are received in arms 28 having channels formed therein for accommodating the opposite edges of the sections. The arms 23 are hingedly `connected together by hinges 29, FIGS.

3 and 9, and an extension 30 is provided for each hinge which is suitably secured to the correspon-ding end plate in order to permit easy removal of the reflector sections 27 `from the light fixturev Thus, the extension 30 is secured to the end plate in such a Way that it may be easily removed' therefrom. The hinges connecting the sections of Ithe reflector may be frictionally tight so as to hold the sections in any desired position. It will be appreciated that because of the hingedly connected reflector sections, the light column produced by the light fixture can be adjusted by -adjusting the relative positioning between the reflector sections Z7. The light fixture may be positioned so that the light column projects upward, downward or in any direction so long as the Quar-tzline type filament lamp remains substantially horizontal. FIGS. 3 and 5 illustrate the reflector as facing upwardly to thereby project a column of light upwardly, while other figures illustrate positioning of the reflector for projecting the light column along the horizontal.

As already explained, one of the most import-ant considerations `for sectionalizing the reflector is to permit easy manufacture of a reflector with a proper wave length select-ive lcoating thereon for reflecting radiant energy within a certain range lof wave lengths. For it is not practical to properly coat a curvate surface of too great a ycurvature by any known system since it would be diflicult, if not impossible, fto obtain an even coat. Each reflector section includes a transparent carrier 31 having a wave length selective coating 32 on one surface thereof capable :of reflecting either visible or invisible radiant energy, while transmitting the other of the radiant energies. Preferably, lthe carrier will be of glass, and of a glass capable `of withstanding high temperatures and having good rthermofshock resistant characteristics.

For lighting purposes, the reflector would have a wave length selective coating that would` filter out the infrared radiant energy, in which case most of it would be transmitted through the reflector, while reflecting the visible radiant energy. However, in some installations, Where it would be desirable to have infrared radiant energy and undesirable to have visible radiant energy, the coating would then be of such a nature so as to reflect the infrared radiant energy and transmit the visible radiant energy. While the coating 32 may be applied -to the transparent carrier by either fthe multi-film system or the colloidal dispersion system, 'the latter is fthe preferred since it is believed to be much superior to rthe multi-film system. Examples of the multi-film or laminar system are disclosed in Turner Patent 2,660,925; Koch et al. Patent 2,742,819 'and Schroder Patent 2,852,980. An example of the colloidal dispersion system is in the Kraus Patent 2,861,896. Further, it will be appreciated that the coating may be on either side 'of the carrier, although preferably on the side as illustrated where it will reflect the visible radiation energy before it passes through a part of the carrier. Effectively rbecause the infrared radiant energy will be transmitted through the reflector, a predominance `of cold light be projected from the reflector.

Where there are two reflector sections as seen particular- 1y in FIGS. l, 3, 7 and 9, they will be preferably connected together by hinges, although it will be appreciated that if there is no desire to provide adjustable focusing of the light fixture, the sections may be fixedly secured relative to one another. The focusing of the light xture depends upon the type of `curvature used by the reflector. For example, the two sectional reflector may define a parabolic reflecting surface, an elliptical reflecting surface or a parti-'circular reflecting surface. The light column emanating from the light xture will depend primarily upon the shape of the reflector employed. For example, if some sort of spot-type light is desired, a parabolic reflector may in some cases serve the purpose while if a more broad dispersed light is desired, the elliptical reflector would probably be used.

A modified reflector is seen in FIG. 5 and generally `designated by the numeral 13-A. This reflector includes a plurality of reflector sections 27a, seven in number, which are arranged` in a butting relationship to define a generally parti-circular reflector. Depending upon the type of radiant energy desired to tbe transmitted and reflected, the wave length selective coating will be accordingly chosen. Further, the sections 27a may be fixedly connected togetheror hingedly connected together depending upon the-installation.

A sectional reflector, for purposes of properly coating the one surface thereof, may also be utilized for construction iof a bell-shaped reflector when used in con- 'junction with a source of radiant energy such as a pear shaped bulb as seen. The bell-shaped reflector is generally designated 'by the numeral 33y and constructed by a plurality of relatively pie-shaped sections 34 arranged together so as to define an opening -in a neck portion at 35 for receiving the end of a pear shaped bulb or globe 36. As in the other reflectors, the coating would be preferably on the inside surface of the reflector. Suitable means may be provided for lixedly securing the sections together in order to form the reflector.

Inasmuch las it is necessary to keep the temperature of the bases 21 of the Quartzline type lamps below a presubstantially all of it away from the bases.

determined temperature, and since there always is a chance of laterally projecting radiant energy which might tend to increase the temperature of the bases, reflectors 37 areprovided at each end of the filament lamp ahead of the ibases for reflecting )any lateral radiant energies away from the bases and thereby maintaining the temperature of the bases at a satisfactorily oper-ating temperature. While these reflectors are shown `as shaped like discs, it may be appreciated that they may Ibe curvate or arcuate, if so desired, however, it is believed that a flat surface will sufficiently take care of any stray radiant energy and keep It may be appreciated .that the construction lof the reflectors 37 may :assume the same standards as'the curvate or arcuate sections 27 or 27a. l Thus, the reflectors 37 may be provided with'a wave selective coating that would reflect the infrared radiant energy as Well as any other radiant energies. Therefore it lrnay have a different coating thereon than the sectional parts 27. The light reflectors 37 are fitted over the ends of the filament lamp '14 and held in place by spring clips 38 that are attached to the socket members 22.

Since in certain install-ations it is `desirous to eliminate completely the infrared radiant energy from the light column, a second reflector 39, parti-circular in configuration, FIGS. 5 and 7, rn-ay be provided which will reflect either substantially all of the infrared radiant energy or substantially 4all of the radiant energies, including infrared and visible, so that none of the infrared radiant energies enter -the light column.

As seen in particular in FIG. 7, the reflector 39 is spaced away from Ithe filament lamp 14 a distance so that the optical axis thereof coincides lor irnpinges the filament 20 ofV the filament lamp 14. Brackets 15 threadedly carrying adjusting screws 17 are provided at each end plate 16 for mounting the opposite ends of the reflector 39 to the frame. 'Ille arcuate length of the reflector 39 is such as to prevent any infrared radiant energy emitted from the filament lamp 14 from bypassing the outer ends of the reflector sections 27, while having the proper particircular configuration to throw back the infrared radiant energy to the filament 20. As already explained, increasing the temperature of the filament will result in an increased efficiency of the light fixture and will place the filament temperature at a higher point, thereby generating an increased amount of visible radiant energy. Thus, the 4reflector 39 serves twofold in preventing the passing of infrared radiant energy into the light column and for increasing the eficiency of the light fixture by increasing the temperature of the filament. Accordingly, the reflector 39 may have a coating which will reflect infrared radiant energy while transmitting visible radiant energy or a coating that will substantially reflect all of the radiant energies.

A modification of the arrangement in the FIG. 7 is shown particularly in FIG. 4, wherein a reflector 39a to serve the same purpose as the reflector 39, is placed directly -upon the outer surface of the envelope of the lamp 14. The .reflector 39a may be suitably secured to the filament lamp 14 `or a wave length selective coating may be applied directly on the outer surface vof the lamp envelope.

Referring again to FIG. 7, the arrows 40 indicate infrared radiant energy bein-g transmitted from the filament lam-p 14 and through the infrared transmitting reflector sections 27, while the visible radiant energy `is reflected from the reflective surfaces on the sections 27 into the light column as indicated by the arrows 41.

rllhe feature of providing the lateral reectors 3'7 to protect lthe bases of the lamp -14 against high temperatures caused by infra-red radiant energy and/ or the provision of the reflector 39a for preventing infrared radiant energy from entering the light column and increasing the visible radiant energy output of the lamp may be applied to a light fixture having a one piece reflector 42 as seen in FIG. 8.

Various ychanges and modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of present invention -as set forth in the appended claims.

'I claim:

1. A light fixture including a reflector having a substantially `continuous curvate reflecting surface and a surface of substantial curvature, means providing a source of visible and invisible radiant energies, said reflector including a plurality of curv-ate sections having adjacent edges in substantial abutting relationship, the extent of curvature of said sections being slight so that even deposition of a reflective coating thereon may be obtained, means for holdin-g said sections together, and each section having a transparent carrier and a coating on one surface thereof reflecting substantially all of one of said radiant energies and vof transmitting substantially all of the other of lsaid radiant energies.

2. A light fixture including a reflector having a substantially continuous curvate reflecting surface and a surface of substantial curvature, means providing a source of visible and invisible radiant energies, said reflector including a plurality of curvate sections having adjacent edges in substantial abutting relationship, the extent of curvature of ysaid sections being slight so that even deposition of a reflective coating thereon may lbe obtained, means hingedly connecting said sections together thereby permitting relative movement therebetween for adjusting the focus of said fixture, and each section having a transparent carrier and a coat-ing on one surface thereof reflecting substantially all of one of said radiant energies and of transmitting substantially all of the other of said radiant energies.

3. A light fixture including a curvate reflector and means providing a line source of visible and invisible radiant energies, said reflector including a plurality o-f elongated curvate sections having adjacent edges in substantial abutting relationship, means for holding `said sections together, and each section having a transparent carrier and a coating on one surface thereof reflecting substantially all tof one of said radiant energies and of transmittin-g substantially all of the other of said radiant energies.

4. A light fixture including .a curvate reflector having a substantially continuons reflecting surface and means providing Ia line vsource of visible and invisible radiant energies, said reflector -including a pair =of elongated curvate sections having adjacent edges in substantial abutting relationship, means for hingedly connecting said sections thereby permitting :adjustability of the focusing of said fixture, and each section having -a transparent carrier and a coating on one surface thereof reflecting substantially all of one of said radiant ener-gies and of transmitting substantially all of the other of said radiant energies.

5. A light fixture `including la curvate reflector having a substantially continuous reflecting surface :and a surface of substantial curvature, means providing a source of visible and invisible radiant energies, said reflector including a plurality of curvate sections having adjacent edges in substantial abutting relationship, the extent of curvature of said sections -being slight so that even deposition of 1a reflective coating thereon may be obtained, means -for connecting said sections together, each section -having a transparent carrier and a coating on one surface thereof reflecting substantially all of one of said radiant energies :and of transmitting substantially all of the other of ysai-d radiant energies, and other reflector means for reflecting substantially all of said radiant energies emitted from a portion o-f said source back to said source.

`6. A light fixture lfor providing a light column including a curvate reflector having a substantially continuous reflecting surface and means providing la line source of visible and infrared radiant ener-gies, said reflector including a plurali-ty of connected elongated curvate sections having adjacent edges in substantial abutting relationship, and each section having a transparent carrier and -a coating `on one surf-ace thereof reflecting substantially all of said visible radiant energy and of transmitting substantially all of said infrared radiant energy, and other reflector means for reflecting substantially all of said infrared radiant energy emitted from said source that is not transmitted through said coated carrier back to said source, said other reflector means being `elongated and parti-circular.

7. A light fixture for providing a light column including a curvate reflector having .a substantially continuous .reflecting surface and means providing a line source of visible and infrared radiant energies, said reflector including a plurality of connected elongated ourvate sections having adjacent edges in substantial abutting relationship, and each section having a transparent carrier and a coating on one surface thereof reflecting substantially all of said visible radiant energy and of transmitting substantially all of said infrared radiant energy, and an elongated Iconcave-convex reflector facing said line source of radiant energies and opposed to the curvature of the sectional reflector, said concavo-convex reflector having a carrier and a coating on the surface facing said line source of radiant energies capable of reflecting substantially all of said Iinfrared radiant energy impinging thereupon and of transmitting all of said visible radiant energy, the curvature of said ooncavo-convex reflector being such as to reflect said infrared radiant energy directly back to said line source of radiant energy.

8. The light fixture `of claim 7, wherein said line source of radiant energies -comprises an elongated lamp having a tubular envelope, and said concavo-convex reflector is mounted in spaced relationship to said tubular envelope -of said lamp.

9. The light fixture of claim 7, wherein said line 'source of radiant energies comprises an elongated lamp, having a tubular envelope, :and said concavo-convex reflector is secured in intimate engagement with the outer surface of said tubular envelope of said lamp.

10. -A light fixture for providing a light column including a reflector having a substantially continuous reflecting surface, means providing a line source of visible and infrared radiant energies including an elongated filament lamp having a main body with terminal bases at each end thereof, andv electrical sockets for receiving the bases of said lamp, lsaid reflector including la plurality of connected elongated curvate sections having adjacent edges in substantial abutting relationship, each said section having a transparent carrier and a coating on one surface thereof reflecting substantially all of one of said radiant energies Kand of transmitting substantially Aall of the other of said rad-iant energies and a disc-like refiector at :the junction of the bases and the main tbody of the lamp extending substantially normal thereto for reilecting substantially all of `said radiant energies mpinging thereupon.

11. A light fixture for providing a light column including a substantially bell-shaped reector and means providing a source of visible and infrared radiant energies,

said reilector including a plurality of substantially ar-V cuate p-ie-shaped sections of slight curvature connected together, each section having a transparent carrier and a coating on one surface thereof reflecting substantially all of the visible radiant energy and transmitting substantially all of the infrared radiant energy.

l2. A light fixture for providing a light column including an elongated concavo-convex reflector having a substantially #continuous reflecting surface and means providing a line source of visible and infrared radiant energies, said means comprising a tubular lament lamp with iodine cycle, said reflector including a pair of hingedly connected longitudinally extending arcuate sections having their-adjacent longitudinal edges in lbutting relation, each section having a transparent carrier and a coating on one surface thereof reilecting substantially all of the visible radiant energy and transmitting substantially all of the infrared radiant energy.

13. The light xture of claim 12 and a disc-like reflector at each vend of said line source extending substantially normal thereto for reflecting substantially all of said radiant energies impinging thereupon.

14. lThe light xture of claim 12 and other reflector means for rellectingsubstantially all. of the infrared radiant energy in the light column back to said line source.

15. Thelight fixture of'clairn 13 and other retlector means for reflecting substantially all of the infrared radiant energy in the light column back to said line source.

References Cited in thele of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,799,899 Herle Apr. 7, 1931 1,855,867 Pearse Apr. 26, 1932 1,873,310 Doane Aug. 23, 1932 2,798,943 Predeaux July 9, 1957 

1. A LIGHT FIXTURE INCLUDING A REFLECTOR HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS CURVATE REFLECTING SURFACE AND A SURFACE OF SUBSTANTIAL CURVATUR, MEANS PROVIDING A SOURCE OF VISABLE AND INVISABLE RADIANT ENERGIES, SAID REFLECTOR INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CURVATE SECTIONS HAVING ADJACENT EDGES IN SUBSTANTIAL ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP, THE EXTENT OF CURVATURE OF SAID SECTIONS BEING SLIGHT SO THAT EVEN DEPOSITION OF A REFLECTIVE COATING THEREON MAY BE OBTAINED, MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID SECTIONS TOGETHER, AND EACH SECTION HAVING A TRANSPARENT CARRIER AND A COATING ON ONE SURFACE THEREOF REFLECTING SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF ONE OF SAID RADIANT ENERGIES AND A TRANSMITTING SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE OTHER OF SAID RADIENT ENERGIES. 